A flying daunder!

Having never taken a bicycle on a flight before it was a bit of a stress worrying about how to get the Daunder to Shetland after my commute to work? as usual i was winging it(pun intended)

         

A ship is safe in a harbor, but ships are made to go out to sea

Staying in a hotel during a pandemic is a bizarre experience firstly on arrival there was no normal check in procedure, on arrival you were asked to say your name then go pick up an envelope from a table with your name on it and instructions along with your room key card in the envelope, only one person allowed in the elevator at a time, which was fine by me as they had no objection to me taking the daunder to my room on the third floor, to strip it down ready for flying, there was no bar or restaurant open we were asked to phone reception with our dinner and breakfast requests, which would be delivered to the door left outside in a bag and the door knocked, it was all rubbish food and what an amount of wasted packaging due to no cutlery or plates, I did use some parts of the boxes and bags to wrap the bike ( I should have used more but the idea came too late)

                I relaxed and caught up with social media along with texting friends and family Wednesday night, breakfast arrived outside my room door at the designated time and I was down stairs in plenty time to put on my face mask nitrile gloves and board the bus out to Dyce where us workers were all getting tested for covid 19, the bus went to Aker solutions head offices at the airport in Dyce where a gym hall had been converted to a clinical testing center, we queued two meters apart then shouted our name on entry, got sat on well-spaced out seating it reminded me of what it was like at a school exam in the assembly hall, when shouted on a nurse took me to a cubicle and explained she would poke what looked like a large cotton bud around the back of my throat while I said arghhhh, then it would be poked up my nose into each nostril. A strange uncomfortable experience but not as painful as I had heard it would be, we hung about waiting on the bus coming back to take us back to the hotel, when it arrived the next squad disembarked we got on, the seats are all segregated with Perspex with double seats all now single ones I sat on a warm seat! and thought perhaps the empty one should be alternated,  we were then to spend the rest of the day isolated in our rooms waiting for our results which was fine by me I had a bike to prepare for a flight  

               It took nearly the whole day of that Thursday to get the bike sorted as best I could with what I had for shipping the daunder through baggage handling, having asked logistics permission via emails to get A bike taken on the flight? the airline had instructed that it would be ok if the handlebars were aligned with the frame- I took the jones bars off the front and taped them to the side, the peddles were tucked in or removed- I removed them and put them in the pannier which would go as separate baggage, the tires were deflated – this was done I also removed the wheels and wrapped and taped them to the frame, the chain was wrapped to stop oil dripping on other baggage- the daunder has a carbon drive no chain no oil! but I wrapped the belt up alongside the frame and secured the chainring by cable tying the peddles to the frame, wrapping it as best I could with the bubble wrap I had carried from home and a roll of cheap masking tape cable ties and bits of the food boxes I cut up, by ten PM it would have to do? Time then for a few relaxing bedtime beers along with what was now the new norm for Thursday nights a zoom chat on the PC with my mates before bed 

                It was a five am rise and a knock at the door from staff who were leaving my breaky bag at the door. Loaded up with backpack on pannier in one hand and bike in the other I was downstairs in plenty time for the bus to the airport, here goes for the bike being a nuisance to everyone else! First of was the bus driver and my fellow passengers (work mates) stuff into bus hold was a nuisance factor to some, most of the team just had hand luggage, I was last on and off the bus due to this, which meant end of the book in que at the airport, the girl asked what weight the bike was I guessed at 15kg but shoved it on her scales and it was 14kg then once she labelled my stuff up, it was off to the outside baggage hatch, where the girl looked at it with a sigh and as she roughly handled it through the x-ray machine said it should be in a box, sorry I said as she went behind a screen for ages she was probably checking the images, but I was thinking she was probably taking photos of my wrapping on her phone and sending it to the baggage handler group chat on her wassap, slating my packaging attempt to the group lol 

                We seemed to be the only flight going out that morning, the charter flights are always small thirty seaters planes, I was trying to see if I could watch the baggage handlers loading the daunder into the planes cargo hold but I missed it, we no longer get an inflight coffee on the short flight due to the pandemic we have to wear masks and the flight attendant cant give us a drink and biscuit, I had my least favorite seat on the plane right up the back where you get bounced about worst when its choppy, thankfully it wasn’t choppy that day on our short flight to sumburgh airport, I stupidly stood at the far side of the baggage collection area, this was a mistake as the bike was first through and got jammed with other stuff bashing into it, fortunately Robbie shouted over at me and gave it a shove to clear the blockage, he then asked me if I wanted any help with it? he was the first and only person to ask and although I really didn’t require a help I had noticed that nobody offered I felt certain that pre pandemic days others would have offered to help someone with extra luggage

            

    Unravelling and reassembly also took a fair amount of time I suppose like most things it would get swifter with practice but I have no inclination to ever take a bike on a flight again, the daunder was reassembled with only a couple of paint scratches on it from leaving home and I had no idea if this was caused by the flight or the journey,

                When I bought Benton’s bicycle up in brae he had thrown in the locker with the bike deal we made and his pump, I had taken that bike home(well marsh took it in his van for me) as it hadn’t coped with a winter in that bike locker and required a full service, my bike locker then lying empty for a few month, the key being lost I decided to burst the padlock and get a new one, when I burst it someone else’s bike was in my locker! I chose another locker that was empty putting the pump my oils and tools in the new one with a new padlock, then secured whoever’s bike was in my old locker with a new padlock also, the daunder is now in its new temporary home being bit by bit kitted out and prepared for Kenny’s big daunder

Brechin morning

Brechin to Westhill

                 Waking at Karen and Allan’s house knowing that the hardest parts of the cycling were now done was great. Also I knew there would be a nice breakfast and they have great taste in coffee all meant it was a pleasant morning, except my sister had to work doing various conference calls from her house, this actually worked out ok as I required to use the WIFI especially for emails from work, I was expecting details on how my proposed test for coronavirus would be conducted along with confirmation the hotel was booked for two nights or it would be a cold park bench in Aberdeen that night! Emails wassap Instagram along with a bit of route checking. Still gutted about losing the map and frustrated at my inability to receive data on my phone made navigation to the hotel in westhill an issue, easy to see the route typed up on a screen with a simple search but that would not be available once on route, being auld and no so internet savvy I made yet another blunder pen and paper for directions! Screen shots would defo have been the way forward (hey ho you live and learn) Karen made us soup and rolls for lunch it was fantastic my nephew kenny came around to say bye, I eventually finished packing, with watch and phone now fully charged along with a full belly all was good

              

  Leaving the bivvy bag airing in the hall along with one pannier full of stuff that I should no longer require, hopefully for collection on my way home in two weeks’ time,  it was then after one PM before I was finally ready to set off, Karen took a photo as I set off, no hand shake no hug not even a high toe lol SEE YAH take care text when you arrive, I was off on the road between brechin and Montrose I have done this numerous times in cars vans motorbikes running and walking, this would be the first time cycling, but in the full knowledge it would not be a pleasant cycle it’s a narrow road with a couple of tight bends with fast cars and trucks (I don’t enjoy running along it due to this), lady luck was with me this day the road is crap to cycle and the cars and trucks do squeeze past at speed far too closely but I had a fantastic tail wind, being in top gear the full way meant I wasn’t in the danger areas long I just had to keep a wary eye for potholes that I didn’t want to hit while a truck was flying up ma bahookie! Both of us at speed

                Once in Montrose I was unsure if it would be possible to get down to some shore side cycle path I tried going down the road beside the airport museum, this is a place I have previously visited and would like to visit again one day, no surprise that the museum and its road to the beach were shut! a return to the main road it was then staying on the road side path for as long as I could, It was eventually on to the busy B-road, thankfully spotting the entrance to the start of a cycle path a few mile out of town, it was a gravelly path but nice to be off the road, then a huge bonus of it joining up the route of a disused railway line that went over an impressive large viaduct looking way down on the main road and the river far below

                At the north end of the viaduct is a millennium post then a cycle route sign post, the sign post pointed downhill below the viaduct to the nature reserve beach, and also onto the main road both the same route, the nature reserve being longer with a steep uphill to the town of st Cyrus, knowing this town well due to my sister having once lived there, I felt no need to visit especially by bicycle along a main road, the sign also said I could get to jonshaven the next town both ways same distance no mention of hill? Hoping for a shore path to jonshaven I opted for the beach, at the far end of this beautiful beach a road rises steeply from  sea level to st Cyrus, a path does head along the shore but it’s a walking path I took it a short distance and spoke to a walker, according to him it was a no goer for a bike like mine, back i went to go up the steep hill it was then, steep hills are no real problem for the daunder it has very low gearing, 

unfortunately the rain came on a bit giving me the opportunity to trial the new cape I had bought, it was a sweaty beast thick plastic which would make a good tarp for roadside bivvy but it was a sweat factory on an uphill cycle, the view from the top was fantastic the rain stopped the cape packed away again and photos taken of the lovely country house and gardens no regrets with trying the beach road 

                It would have been a lot quicker sticking with the main road as I knew this road well along with the main street of picturesque town of St Cyrus, once through the town I was stuck on that main B road verge for a long time two hours seems like a long time cycling on main roads, I did stop briefly at the big bite in gourdon (och aye the noo) which was unfortunately shut, but I managed to get a shop in Inverbervie for snacks and drinks and photos of the cutty sark bow,  which brought back happy memories of previous visits to that town in Grassic gibbon country,  who is the author of my second favorite audio-book if any of the readers can guess my favourite audio-book of all time? I shall buy them a beer/dram or wine of their choice 

             

   There was a turning to the left of the main road on what seemed to be not too far from Stonehaven it had a cycle route one sign on it (no map no data) contemplating the fact it could take me miles away from my route I was considering staying with the main road, but seen a young couple come out a cottage I cycled up to them and explained I was trying to get to the far side of Stonehaven would this be a good way to go, definitely they said in unison nice couple and enthusiastic about the back road I took their advice, it was a lovely road AB39 I found out later this is what it was, it took me away from the busy A92 angus coastal road up past a nice looking wood walk with plenty wood carvings around it 

                As I cycled along this route I came across some cows very close to the road they were all looking at me but seemed unafraid and stayed their ground which was unusual this close, the very next field had some horses they all had winter blankets on even though it was June, there was two girls stopped and were stroking their noses feeding them with something just walkers obviously that had stopped to pet the lovely horses, I wondered by what fate of history did these two similar mammals get the difference between a good deal and a shit deal cows are used but horses are worshiped its bizarre to me!

                The pleasant country road came to a strange end as the road went on to join the busy A90 where the cycle path went back on itself 220yds according to a sign to cross the road, I could clearly see Stonehaven way down at sea level in the distance and the area I wanted to be to pick up the B979 at the far end of town near the new section of A90 which you are not allowed to cycle on, it looked a long way away to town, I guessed (wrongly) the cycle path would go down and through town to come back up the other end and join this road (partially true) without going into too much detail I ended up cycling along a short section of the old A90 before finding the roundabout where I could join the B979, some motorists were a touch irate about this I got a couple of toots argh well!

                The signposts at the roundabout were great for motorists I could clearly see where I should drive for my destination, but the old backroad had no sign for my next destination Peterculter? I went up a hill decided I better go back and be sure, I stopped a girl who was cycling up she was uncertain about Peterculter but knew that road I had come back from would take me the back way to Aberdeen, off I went a pleasant enough back road except for two boy racers, after two or three mile on this road a cycle sign for cycle route number one appeared at a turning to the right under the new bypass road A90, I stopped at this junction! I know Aberdeen well and know that national cycle route one goes right through the centre down by the harbour, whereas I was heading to westhill at the far end of town!? Dilemmas no data no map no screen shot? was I on the right road should I just take the cycle route then head for Dyce and westhill once at the town centre?

                Karen had gave me two boiled eggs with some chopped onion in a bag I had crisps to go with this, along with some juice from the shop I had stopped at, a wee scoff while thinking this over was in order, after peeling the eggs I spotted a delivery van turning into my junction! Old school ask someone was the only way, I flagged it down as it slowed for the turn and asked for help very politely explaining my dilemma, the van driver looked like the TV chef Ainsley Harriot. He was very helpful he checked his mobile phone for directions, stick with the road you were on mate the B979 don’t take this one as it goes into town the AB39. Excellent it helped me enjoy my lunch all the more in the knowledge I was on the right road, and ponder if other people ever stopped to ask strangers for directions anymore?

        

        The sign said nine mile to Peterculter I passed the Aberdeen husky and dogsled centre and some shed in the middle of nowhere which had an old fighter jet at its gate but apart from that it was a dull winding undulating road through rolling countryside with no real view, as soon as I arrived at the north end of Peterculter, I immediately knew I would have to ask someone again for directions, the road crossed a stream and then a busy road leading to another road there was a cycle path sign this one for the dee way, again I was certain this went back to the centre of town, from memory I was sure it was to Duthie park I ran this route a few years ago, I wanted to be further north west, I asked a chap with a broken arm out for a walk, yet again he was a great help and pointed me up a hill swing left at the top pass an equestrian centre then follow the country road for about half an hour! Thanks said I you have been a great help if only I had listened more intently, I missed my left turn and ended up on a fly over on the only decent piece of cycle path of the whole route it didn’t last long as per usual and I had to stop a couple and ask if I was on the right track I wasn’t I had cycled past the left turn three quarters of the way up the hill,

                The country road had no signs saying westhill I passed a few roads shooting right and left with absolutely nothing but the occasional farm house left or right for five or six mile I came to a roundabout, yet again no sign for westhill I took a guess at turning right towards Aberdeen came to a garden centre then a big welcome to westhill sign YESss now to find the hotel, I first came to the huge industrial estates with firstly totals offices and then many of the other major players in the north sea but no hotels I discovered a big Tesco and remembered that from the last time I had stayed there and went for a jog around town, I’ve stayed a few times at different hotels and always had a jog around, yet again I resorted to asking a couple if they knew where the hotel was they did and gave me good directions to the service station along the main road sure enough that’s where it was, I had arrived it was half seven, around six and half hours cycling,

                First thing first I went to the service station spar for beer and discovered they have a truly wonderful selection of beers I purchased a few for my room, once at reception due to covid many things had changed you never went near reception you were pointed to a table to retrieve an envelope with your name on it, I asked if it were ok to take my bike to my room so as to prepare it for going as hold luggage which was fine, up the elevator to the third floor for me and the daunder some team

                Days work done beer and text time  

Lochside to Brechin

Lochside sunshine to wet tent

              

  The birds can be very noisy I had heard them a lot throughout the night whilst dosing on and off in the Bivvy, I liked the little hood on giving me a little head-space next time I will put more jackets and stuff in the head space area to prop my head up the one wee travel pillow wasn’t enough, once I had submitted to the fact I would not get back to sleep at six am due to bird noise and sunshine poking at me through my alpkit Bivvy cocoon, unzipping the fly net section of the hood more for trial than to enjoy peering through it at the sunrise, I had slept through  the actual sunrise so it was more a sort of morning glow than any tequila style beauty, beautiful none the less, coffee sitting on the wee log would have been nice. but I had intentionally left all cooking and fire making equipment at home, it was nature bars to eat whilst taking my time packing everything away ready to set off it was a beautiful morning, once cycling along the forest trail I was surprised to see dog walkers and other cyclists already out and about, I am never out the house this early unless going to work,

                It wasn’t too far before I hit a trail sign pointing out a route to a car park and having studied the map knew I wanted to take this car park route to get back on the road to head north, cycling upon a corner coop in Milnathort within the first forty minuet’s of cycling was perfect, there was a coffee machine in the shop and a large selection of snacks and drinks (obviously) hot coffee and an egg sandwich for breakfast tasted phenomenal, trying to follow a plant based lifestyle is difficult whilst on the move but I have come to learn that egg and cress are all at least normally dairy free it has been over eighteen months at that time of writing since I had any dairy, some people call eggs dairy they are not! I know that I should feel bad about these type of mass produced eggs but needs must sometimes, there was very few vegan options, the young man at the till asked me to do my own scanning and would prefer con-tactless payment, which was fine by me social distancing is here to stay I sometimes think especially for some people, eating my sandwich and enjoying good hot coffee in the sun whilst unlocking the bike and checking the map in a corner shop car park may sound shit to some people? but I was in my element extremely happy at the good fortune I was having,

Hodophile - a lover of the road⁠

                One of the other reasons I was happy was my phone battery almost dead, I had put it to low power mode and flight mode, I thought I had forgot my charging cable( I hadn’t it was in a different bag from where I thought it was) the purchase of a new cable here at this co-op was not required but I thought it was at the time, smiling happily to myself as I worked out a way to plug it into my headpost USB dynamo charger unit and a front bar bag, here we go a chance to trial my new USB dynamo charger excellent thinks I, it turns out there is a wee green light comes on to say its charging when you get up to a certain speed or enough hub revolutions to generate I think 5Volts? then this really just gives a trickle charge its enough to keep the phone functioning and going up slightly-not dying, I had it plugged in the rest of the day and it still didn’t go above 25% charged (maybe I shoulda peddled faster!)

                I had made my decision to cross the river Tay at Perth not at Tayport near the east coast, according to the map this meant following cycle route 775 up through a village called Glenfarg on mostly country roads and sometimes roadside paths, this is exactly what it was some great downhill sections in glorious sunshine through farming country which was beautiful even if I did get sprayed by some sort of grit like crop feed at one point it was like your car getting hit by the council gritter pellets in winter, the road narrowed at a forested area at one stage and I chose to stop a couple of times to allow some considerate truck drivers to pass who didn’t want to overtake me on a bendy road like that with no clear vision ahead,

                Path signs for cyclists strangely ended on the outskirts of Perth with a few merging roads I stopped to have a look at my map and eat a biscuit having filled my platypus with water that morning with a litre bottle of peach flavoured water the sunny day had parched me and I drained it finished my biscuit quickly and just stuffed my map in my pocket as I was probably going to need it in the city centre was I got there, the signs were disappointing city centre but I went through the lovely big tree lined park over the main road through some shops then onto the banks of the river Tay, simple enough really I only had to cross the nice bridge to the north shore and turn right following the far bank of the Tay all the way to Dundee, the gardens at the far side were beautiful I walked a section to enjoy it contemplating stopping for photos but the phone (which I was using for my photos) was still low on charge most photos that day were handle bar shots phone still connected to headpost charger,

                These lovely garden paths also went out to a mid-river island I wish I had time to visit, having seen this pathway numerous times from the train and always thinking one day I shall cycle that, here I was living that dream, but the dream and the reality didn’t match when the path ended abruptly not long after the railway bridge and turned left up some seriously steep stairs with big steps and no ramp for a bike, without heavy panniers on I would have shouldered the bike easily but with heavy panniers every single one of those big steps was a crap obstacle, I wish now I had counted them or even took a photo, once at the top of the stairs my route was then joining a main road out of town not the dreamed off pleasant cycle path,

                Roughly knowing where I was safe in the knowledge of keeping the river on my right shoulder would get me to my destination; I was still curious if I had missed a trick somewhere and decided to consult the map? Wearing a very handy cycling Gillet with two excellent big back pockets for storing stuff one of which has a pocket flap with a magnetic catch, why did I shove that map in the side pocket? I hate to think I had created some waste I was gutted I had lost a good map! I love maps I hoped someone would find it that could use it, but no way was I going to backtrack to the far side of town to look for it!

                A later check showed that I had missed a trick there looked to be a good cycle route up around kinfauns, which has a hilltop tower I’ve often admired from car windows on the busy A90, there also looked to be a good round the Tay cycle route similar to my beloved round the forth route (maybe one day?) I was by then on a walking path alongside the busy A90 for what feels far too long on a cycle trip, until eventually at a town called st madoes I crossed a level crossing and was onto some lovely back country roads, this is a huge area for soft fruit growing with huge areas covered by poly tunnels a very lush farming area, my favourite part of this area though is the Cairn o` Mohr fruit winery I regularly buy their wines and maybe one day will take part in the international wine bottle smashing competition it’s a great place to visit, sadly shut due to coronavirus when I cycled close by had it been open it would have made a perfect lunch stop,

                   I stopped instead for lunch in the town of errol asking a fellow cyclist to watch my bike at the town centre memorial while I went in to buy lunch at the wee shop. Then Eating it while reading the town tourist info notices the sun was blazing to the extent I was contemplating raking out my sun cream from one of the panniers, the weather report had said it would get rain and wind later but there was no sign of that yet,

                It was a pleasant cycle all the way from there into Dundee and onto the banks of the Tay for a lovely cycle path through town bringing back lots of happy memories of visits to that good city, discovery point the restaurants bars and hotels that I knew well from past visits, the only sadness was the now missing swimming baths we loved that big pool, I stopped at the edge of the city and spoke to a fellow cyclist asking some questions? explaining I had lost my map he got his phone out and had a look at my proposed route recommending that when I get to Arbroath I shouldn’t go right into town but instead head out the Forfar road at the start of town, thanking him and cycling on I came to the impressive site of broughty castle which I had never seen before I thought I knew this coastline extremely well and here was a big castle I never even known existed impossible not to see from the shore and town!

                The rest of the cycle up this coast was through picturesque holiday home towns it was sad to see all the big static caravans lying empty the gates to the holiday villages padlocked shut in the Hight of summer, the golf courses were back open though and although the grass was very parched and requiring the rain that was coming later they were all busy, Carnoustie has polite signs on the cycle path reminding cyclists and walkers to be respectful of golfers and be quiet as they pass! I’ve seen the cycle path going through the army base of Barry Buddon with its rifle ranges and assault course countless times from the train it’s a big camp impossible to miss, yet again always thinking to myself while on that train one day I will cycle that path, I stopped to take a photo of the firing range warning sign and smiled happily to be fulfilling that long held ambition,

      

          The cycle path at the shore in Arbroath has a large play-park with mini ride on train amusement arcades all the trappings of a seaside holiday town, I had to find the first pedestrian tunnel to cycle under the main road, where a slight spit of rain drizzled briefly a warning of what was coming as I gazed at the darkness on the horizon, a phone call from my work came in doing a premobilisation health check, after the call I text my sister Karen to make sure I was about to take the correct road turning toward Forfar next to mcd`s & KFC, yep that was the road fourteen miles to go a race against the rain, this ruled out my desire to cycle in and buy some smokies from my favourite fish smoker Mr spinks

                The days cycling so far had been glorious sunshine virtually no wind nice and warm, now the sunglasses were off it was overcast prescription specs on a cold breeze picking up, I cycled up past commando base condor where I stopped to take a picture to send my brother as he was based here for a while, he text back to say that he had ran along that road many a time, it was all rolling undulating country roads not really fun for cycling too much traffic, I did smile as I passed through Friockheim as I have a friend who grew up in a tiny village around here and this was her main town as a child, the rest of the cycle had just became all about getting to the destination I was hungry getting cold wanting a beer and starting to moan to myself 

                I got to Karen and Allan’s house just as the rain started to come on perfect timing, Karen had pitched a nice big tent for me in her front garden, I waved at her through her patio door as she typed away at her computer headphones on working from home on some sort of conference meeting, I emptied my panniers and stuff into the tents seating area, six and a half hours to do sixty seven miles I was ready for a beer, Karen had some beer chilling along with dinner cooked a great sister, this and a visit from two of my nephews Richard and kenny, all observing social distancing of course none of the normal handshakes. It was fantastic to see them all what a great day    

Polmont to where?

Does every adventure start from the Minuit you leave home?
                                  By the time I had breakfast sorted the house and garden for leaving it for three weeks completed packing made last minuet emails text social media then had brunch it was after one PM, getting my mate Bryan to take a pic of me and setting off it was nearly 13:30! I peddled away up the street and was out at the petrol station at the end of my small town when I decided nope the tyres defo needed more pressure in them, with the weight of me and the baggage it became very obvious I had not checked the air pressure the portable hand pump doesn’t cut the mustard when your looking for sixty PSI, first setback back to the house and get the big pump out yep the tyres were way to low schoolboy error averted or perhaps the error was that it wasn’t checked sooner. (note to self) check list to be made before the next adventure 

                This time I was off but which way? The final destinations were known westhill Aberdeen then flight to Shetland, I had three days to get to Aberdeen, leaving from Falkirk area meant I could go forth road brig Kincardine bridge or Clackmannan bridge heading toward Dundee, having already done the coast and castles north route via the coast over forth road brig and up the coastline through Kirkcaldy etc  all the way to Leuchars. Ruled that out for me I am always looking for new boxes to tick, it was a consideration to head over Clackmannan to crook of Devon route to Kinross with hindsight this would possibly have been the fastest and easiest, I opted to go Kincardine then attempt to go through Devilla forest and pick up the Alloa to Dunfermline cycle path trying to stay away from cars as much as possible was my thinking,

                This first section wasn’t on my map and that forest was an absolute maze of trails of all sorts sometimes forest floor sometimes gravel land rover thee was even a sandy section. There was plenty steep ups and downs (mostly ups) the fully loaded daunder at the back and zero weight at the front meant the stearing felt uncontrollable at times the path was deciding where the wheels could go the back end also swung at times I could feel it and a rubbing noise that was annoying me which turned out to be the mudguard stays, on one bumpy down section I heard a clunk then felt a rub? It was my new panniers the bolts holding it to the back wheel spindle had both worked loose and it had dropped onto the mudguard SHIT, I had to prop it up against a tree remove everything the screws were lost after a bit of head scratching I had a revelation the new tribars had lots of bolts of differing sizes I stripped one down and used its bolts to re`secure the pannier rack get loaded and head off again, down to one tribar which I would plan trying to use like a narwhal when I got a chance

                It was a sore uphill slog on trail next so bad I got off to push mostly because of zero weight at front meant the pressure on the peddles raised the front wheel sometimes and stearing became crap I was basically wasting energy consistently on the hill of that type, although I’m unsure if pushing didn’t waste just as much again due to poor weight distribution,

                 The next issue was left foot cleat had stuck my boot to the peddle twist as I might it didn’t want to come of? what made it stick on? On inspection one of the screws of the cleat had worked itself right out now missing one and the cleat was able to swing around as I tried to unclip my foot! I’m not blaming the forest trail as it was really good it was probably just exactly what I was looking for to test my new equipment, so far some of which was failing well probably more likely my mechanical skills, but this is how you learn 

             

   The forest was great but I was glad to see the pleasant easy level surfaced cycle path once out the forest, which I followed all the way to Dunfermline stopping a few times to suss out potential new routes on my regular round the bridges cycles, and also adjust the mudguards a few times! Dunfermline was on my map but I feel sure I could have found a better way out of town, I ended up heading up a decent cycle path to a town called kingseat, half way up this hill poor gear choice let to a bike stall due to the cleat clipping itself in on a downstroke I couldn’t get it back out due to missing bolt and bosch down I went! Only thing damaged was my pride the weather was fantastic and I stopped to take in the view, the cycle path died in kingseat, and it was all country road, into Kelty with an exhilarating down hill out of town I had spotted a chip shop open yah beauty brakes on, lockdown must be easing the staff did have face visors on and I had to put my money and collect my change from a tub handled with prongs and gloved fingers but I got fish and chips. I try to follow a plant-based diet but couldn’t resist fish and chips here, I put them on the back rack secured by a bungee and cycled out of town to find a beauty spot to eat them 

                The beauty spot was in the woods below a hill with decent views the fish and chips were good all the faffing around with panniers etc had cost time along with the late set off meant it was after six PM soon I would need to think of where to stop, I had stupidly paused my Garmin watch while eating and worse forgot to restart it when I set off so according to Strava and Garmin that’s where my days ride finished at 28.5 miles which it wasn’t I rode on for at least another two and a half hours possibly three but this again was mostly trail so not that great distance just pleasant traffic free cycling through a nature reserve 

                I had cycled along the shore of loch leven which was a wonderful cycle all over the north side and I am not sure if I should print this but I found a sneaky spot to pitch my bivvy once unpacked and the campsite for the night was set I laid out my book my map and had a beer and dram to study the next days route and read a while as the sun went down absolutely stunning spot and the midges weren’t bad, I did add them to my notebook of things to remember next time midgie net! I did say this wee adventure was all about learning and getting the kit right for the big trip the notebook now had a decent list of stuff I shoulda brought! No complaints I couldn’t be happier well maybe a wee pub along the road a few friends round a fire a hot tub lol,